Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States Home Calendar Holidays the United States Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States. Martin Luther King Jr statue "The Stone Of Hope" memorial by master sculptor Lei Yixin was opened to the public in West Potomac Park, Washington DC, on August 22, 2011. ©iStockphoto.com/Camrocker What Do People Do? Martin Luther King Day is a relatively new federal holiday and there are few long standing traditions. It is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. Some educational establishments mark the day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racial segregation and racism. In recent years, federal legislation has encouraged Americans to give some of their time on this day as volunteers in citizen action groups.

Martin Luther King Day, also known as Martin Luther King’s birthday and Martin Luther King Jr Day, is combined with other days in different states. For example, it is combined with Civil Rights Day in Arizona and New Hampshire, while it is observed together with Human Rights Day in Idaho. It is also a day that is combined with Robert E. Lee’s birthday in some states. The day is known as Wyoming Equality Day in the state of Wyoming. Public Life Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday, but has slightly different names in some states. Non-essential Government departments are closed, as are many corporations. Some schools and colleges close but others stay open and teach their students about the life and work of Martin Luther King. Small companies, such as grocery stores and restaurants tend to be open, although a growing number are choosing to close on this day. Some compensate by opening on Washington's Birthday instead. Recent federal legislation encourages Americans to give some of their time on Martin Luther King Day as volunteers in citizen action groups. Public transit systems may or may not operate on their regular schedule. Background Martin Luther King was an important civil rights activist. He was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States.

His most famous address was the "I Have A Dream" speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968. In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him. After the first bill was introduced, trade unions lead the campaign for the federal holiday. It was endorsed in 1976. Following support from the musician Stevie Wonder with his single "Happy Birthday" and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Day was first observed in 1986, although it was not observed in all states until the year 2000. In 1990, the Wyoming legislature designated Martin Luther King Jr/Wyoming Equality Day as a legal holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observances Select another year-range: Learn About Life in the U.S. | USA.gov American Holidays Federal Holidays Many government offices close on federal holidays and some private businesses may close as well. If the holiday falls during the weekend, the government may observe it on a different day.

Federal employees receive pay and many receive time off for federal holidays . 2017 Federal Holidays Monday, January 2: New Year’s Day* Monday, January 16: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday, February 20: Washington’s Birthday Monday, May 29: Memorial Day Tuesday, July 4: Independence Day Monday, September 4: Labor Day Monday, October 9: Columbus Day Friday, November 10: Veterans Day** Thursday, November 23: Thanksgiving Day Monday, December 25: Christmas Day *January 1, 2017 (the legal public holiday for New Year's Day), falls on a Sunday. Most federal offices will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2017, in observance of New Year's Day. **November 11, 2017 (the legal public holiday for Veterans Day), falls on a Saturday. Most federal offices will be closed on Friday, November 10, 2017, in observance of Veterans Day. On Inauguration Day, Friday, January 20, 2017, many federal offices in the Washington, DC, area will be closed.

Commonly Celebrated Holidays and Observances Some holidays honor specific groups and events, such as Valentine’s Day, Earth Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Flag Day, and Halloween. These are not federal holidays. Some holidays and observances receive Presidential proclamations. Ethnic and Religious Holidays Various ethnic and religious groups in the United States celebrate days with special meaning to them. Some of these holidays include Easter for Christians, the High Holy Days for Jews, Ramadan for Muslims, Day of Vesak for Buddhists, and Diwali for Hindus. The United States issues paper currency and coins to pay for purchases, taxes, and debts. Paper Money American paper currency is issued in several denominations : $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing manufactures paper money. It also redesigns money , with new appearances and enhanced security features to prevent counterfeiting. You can purchase commemorative or bulk versions of American currency through the Bureau's Money Store.

The United States no longer issues bills in larger denominations, such as $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills. However, they are still legal tender and may still be in circulation. Coins The United States issues several denominations, with the most common being: 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, and $1. The U.S. Mint is responsible for manufacturing and circulating coins to pay for goods and services. It also issues collectible and commemorative coins that honor a person, place, or event and are available for purchase . Mutilated Money If you have paper money that is extremely damaged, you can redeem it with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Examples of damaged paper money include bills that are less than one half of the bill, or in such a condition that you are unable to tell the denomination of the bill. If you have paper money that is dirty, defaced, torn, or more than half of the original size, you can take it to your local bank to exchange it for a bill that is in better shape.

If you have any coins that are fused, melted, or mutilated in any other way, you can send them to the U.S. Mint for evaluation. You can exchange other coins that aren't severely damaged at your local bank. Back to Top Help for New Immigrants The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) offers a free guide, Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants, which helps new immigrants find basic information on how to settle in the United States. USCIS can also assist you in finding federal government resources and organizations that can help you learn English, apply for U.S. citizenship, manage money, find child care, and more. Back to Top Museums Museums collect and care for objects of scientific, artistic, or historical importance and make them available for public viewing. They generally concentrate on a particular subject, and most belong to one or more of the following categories: Fine Arts or Applied Arts History—Natural, Cultural, and Military Science Anthropology and Ethnology (branch of anthropology that analyzes cultures) Children's Museums Back to Top Official Language of the United States There is no "official" language at the federal level for the United States.

Although the most commonly used language is English , more than 300 languages are spoken or signed by the population. Some individual states list English as their official language. If you would like the United States or your state to adopt an official language, you should contact your elected officials . The federal government is required to provide access to federal programs and federally assisted programs for people with limited English proficiency . Back to Top States and State Capitals The Library of Congress provides historical information and fun facts about each state in the United States , including when they became a state, their nickname, and capital. If you need information on state programs and services, browse your state government website . Back to Top Time Zones The continental U.S. (including Alaska) spans five time zones . American Samoa, Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are located in additional time zones. Daylight Saving Time is a widely used system in the U.S. that adjusts the official local time forward one hour during spring and summer months. Clocks are moved ahead one hour on the second Sunday in March at 2 a.m. (local time). Clocks are moved back one hour on the first Sunday in November at 2 a.m. (local time).

Some people remember which way to move their clocks by using the phrase, "spring forward, fall back." Daylight Saving Time is not observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and most of Arizona. Back to Top Do you need help? Ask us any question about the U.S. government for free. We'll get you the answer, or we'll tell you where to find it. Martin Luther King Day / M L King Day - USA Holiday MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY / M L KING DAY Quick Facts : Martin Luther King Day / M L King Day Date: Jan 16, 2017 Also Called: Dia de Martin Luther King Celebrations: volunteers in citizen action groups Martin Luther King Day is a national holiday in the USA, celebrated on 3rd Monday of January each year. This day honors the birthday of the veteran leader and a great man, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was born on 15th January, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was excellent in studies.

In his early life he faced racism, which made a deep impact in his life, than he decided to fight against such social injustice through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. Dr. King was the preacher of non-violence. He is a symbol of peace and truth. In 1964 he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racism. He had a dream to make the world a better place to live. He was assassinated on 4th April, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He spent his whole life fighting against the social injustice. This is a day to realize the dream of Dr. King, for the freedom, equality and the dignity of all the people without any social barrier. This is a day to remember his sacrifices and to follow the path he has shown us Martin Luther King Day / M L King Day Observances DAY The King Holiday | The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change 1 2 Signed into law in January 1983 by President Ronald Reagan, the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday is a celebration of Dr.

King’s immeasurable contribution to the United States, and to humankind. The holiday would not have been possible without the tireless leadership of the King Center’s founder and long-time president, Mrs. Coretta Scott King. We encourage you to read her inspiring words on the meaning of the King Holiday and learn about its history . Celebrated on the third Monday of January, the King Holiday is a time when the nation pauses to remember Dr. King’s life and work, but also to honor his legacy by making the holiday a day of community service, “a day on, not a day off.” At The King Center in Atlanta, King Day is the culmination of a week-long celebration marked by youth programs, educational seminars, community dialogues, service projects and our annual Salute to Greatness Awards and Dinner and Commemorative Service . Location King holiday comes amid a new generation of protests FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest King holiday comes amid a new generation of protests Against a backdrop of protests around the country over police treatment of black men, Martin Luther King Jr.'s hometown and cities celebrated his 86th birthday.

Post to Facebook King holiday comes amid a new generation of protests Against a backdrop of protests around the country over police treatment of black men, Martin Luther King Jr.'s hometown and cities celebrated his 86th birthday. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 36 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs King holiday comes amid a new generation of protests Larry Copeland , USA TODAY Published 6:02 a.m. ET Jan. 19, 2015 | Updated 11:10 p.m. ET Jan. 19, 2015 CLOSE x Share On the annual federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., people took to the streets to honor the civil rights leader and to protest police brutality. Shannon Rae Green The King family. (Photo: AP) ATLANTA – Against a backdrop of protests around the country over police treatment of black men, Martin Luther King Jr.'s hometown and cities across the USA celebrate his 86th birthday today with marches, rallies and service projects.

In light of fresh memories of those protests and recent acts of violent terrorism in France and Nigeria, the commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King was co-pastor with his father, seemed not so much a celebration of the past as a reminder of how relevant King's message of equality and peace remains 47 years after his assassination. King's daughter, the Rev. Bernice King, drew a connection between the movement her father led and the response to contemporary killings by police officers of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., Eric Garner in New York and 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Ohio. She praised "the thousands of youths in a multicultural coalition" who have taken to the streets to demand that the nation be held accountable. She spoke of the enduring nature of King's message of peace and said the "cry of 2,000" killed by terrorists in Nigeria and "the blood of those who cry out from the ground in Paris" are reminders that the message is as relevant as ever. Sandra Draper, 50, of Atlanta said peaceful protests in dozens of cities in recent months add a special significance to the annual Ebenezer service.

"I just went to see (the movie) Selma, and I was interested to see that here we are 50 years later, and the exact same things are happening," she said. "But I'm really encouraged to see the youths today taking charge and taking to the streets and being passionate about their feelings and just showing up for the cause." Robin Hayes of suburban Canton, Ga., said the Ebenezer service reminded her of King's commitment to peace. "If the violence can be addressed, whether it's police violence against our communities or the violence we are seeing on an international level like al-Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula in Paris, Dr. King's message is still the same," she said. "If we don't learn to co-exist in peace, we are all going to be non-existent." Here and around the nation, people marked the day by feeding the hungry, donating blood or performing some other service to help others, said Steve Klein, spokesman for the King Center. "More than 2 million people are involved in service projects on the holiday," he said. "The holiday really has not evolved into a day of barbecues." The King holiday was celebrated in many major cities.

In New York, the family of Garner, who died after police put him in a chokehold, planned to lay a wreath at a memorial on a Brooklyn street where two police officers were ambushed in December by a man who said he was avenging Garner's death. A large celebration at the Brooklyn Academy of Music had music, speeches and appearances by the philosopher-activist Cornel West and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. The mayor was set to appear with Al Sharpton, and participants in a #Dream4Justice March were scheduled to march from 110th Street and Lenox Avenue to the United Nations. In Los Angeles, more than 3,000 people were expected to participate in the 30th annual Kingdom Day Parade, the largest King Day celebration in Southern California. The parade includes a replica of the bus that Rosa Parks, the mother of the civil rights movement, rode in Montgomery on Dec. 1, 1955, when she refused to give her seat to a white rider. Among other King holiday events around the USA: •Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson spoke Monday morning at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington.

•In Springfield, Mo., about 2,000 people — from babies in slings to a 13-year-old on crutches to adults in wheelchairs — gathered under blue skies and in balmy temperatures for the Martin Luther King Jr. march. Former City Council member Denny Whayne, 70, who said he helped start the march in 1975, participated in a wheelchair. "I'm out here because of the fact that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was trying to establish equality — not by the color of your skin but by the content of your character," he said. "We must continue the fight. If everybody is not free, then nobody is free." •In Des Moines, three-time Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 52, who persevered through severe asthma to set world records in the heptathlon, spoke to a crowd during the holiday celebration. "Yes, I had a dream. That dream was all about me," she said. "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, and it was about all of us. That's the difference." The Olympian, who grew up running barefoot on dirt tracks in St.

Louis, urged young people in the crowd to expand their horizons. "Open those books," she said. "Read about the unknown. Understand why there's a struggle." •At Clemson University in South Carolina, where racial tensions have prompted some black students to call for the university to rename its iconic Tillman Hall because of the 19th-century namesake's racist past, black and white students worked together at a community center boxing up food for the needy. Clemson President Jim Clements joined in the work of sorting and boxing fruit. "I'm happy to be out here today working along with our students and community members on this special day," he said. "We've had some good discussions on campus." He didn't want to discuss the Tillman Hall issue but said he believes race relations are moving in a positive direction on campus. "In the college environment, you want an environment in which people can speak openly and freely and share their thoughts," he said. Byron Lowens, an African-American Ph.D. student in computer science from Monroe, La., worked alongside Clements. He said he has experienced instances of racial tension on campus.

"But I really just kind of brushed it off and don't pay any attention to that kind of thing," he said. "But I hope that whatever the situation, it is resolved and people not be looked at as African American, Indian, Chinese, but everybody the same. That's what we're here for today." •At an interfaith service In south Reno, which celebrated King's legacy a day before the national holiday, the prevailing message was a simple one: The children are the future. Angie Taylor, Washoe County School District trustee and lead speaker at the service, said King's legacy inspired Reno to come together, making it a model community for the future of children. "If you looked around, there was a rainbow of people, a roomful of people with joy, and we sang together, we prayed together and we held hands together," Taylor said Sunday. •Hundreds of people in Nashville trekked from a youth rally at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church to Tennessee State University for a convocation commemorating King. Todd Buchanan, 14, carried a sign with the words "My legacy is loud" as he marched with the throng. The Montgomery Bell Academy student said the legacy of African Americans is often shut out or glossed over.

"We are told not to look into the past. We were not allowed to learn about our ancestors, but we want that to be known," Buchanan said. "It seems that right now, not enough of us are educated and know about the past, so it is tending to repeat itself a little bit with Mike Brown and Trayvon Martin." Martin was a 17-year-old black youth in Sanford, Fla., who was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman on Feb. 26, 2012; Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in July 2013. •During an event at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn., Police Chief Blair Anderson said people's reactions to injustice need to have focus. "When I reflect ... I like to be astute about our history," he said. "Because if we're not, it's no wonder it keeps repeating itself." Anderson said 99% of police officers in uniform do the job for the right reasons, and it's unfortunate so much attention is focused on a small percentage of officers who do wrong.

•In Minneapolis, civil rights attorney Vernon Jordan said the walls of segregation were demolished in the 1960s and '70s, but the rubble remains. "We have knocked down what Martin called the sagging walls of segregation," he said. "What we are dealing with now is the rubble we confront ... a deeply entrenched discrimination." •In Lawrence County, Miss., about 100 people gathered Sunday evening for the first "Journey to Justice" march, walking down Broad Street in Monticello to the Lawrence County Courthouse, where activists spoke about perceived shortcomings in the criminal justice system. March organizer Cathy Clark said she hoped area youth learned something from the demonstration. "They can take it back to their generation, to their friends in the neighborhood, in the church, their school and say, 'I was there on that day. I made a difference,' " she told WLBT-3. •In Prattville, Ala., Albert Roberts watched the King Day parade on Chestnut Street. He said King's memory needs to be kept alive for future generations.

He noted that 2015 will see the 50th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday," the historic day when people marching for the right to vote were severely beaten in Selma on March 7, 1965. "Young people today don't know the struggles it took to get the right to vote for blacks," he said. "It breaks my heart when I talk to people, black and white, who never bother to vote. It wasn't too long ago that people were denied the right to vote just because of the color of their skin." •After a Unity Breakfast in Fort Myers, Fla., hundreds of people marched down the boulevard that bears King's name, singing and chanting for freedom. They were bound for a riverside celebration at Centennial Park. Kimberly Morse led a group of 35 people from the Home Depot she manages in neighboring Cape Coral. "The (civil rights) leaders have really paved the way for a young black woman to be a store manager," Morse said.

"I am blessed." •In Louisville, hundreds of people wearing buttons with King's face and the color green packed into the King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church for the 43rd annual PRIDE motorcade and rally honoring the civil rights icon. Bishop Dennis Lyons of Gospel Missionary Baptist Church said the non-violent, community-oriented "Code Green" effort was meant to act as a call for churches, neighbors and the police to work together. "We're trying to start a new relationship with each other," Lyons said. "Let's protect our community, so it can still be here for our next generation." •At the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center, the Rev. Marilyn Cunningham of Graves Memorial CME Church posed a question: What would King do if he were here? The answer, she said, is simple: He would get busy. She noted the protests in Ferguson and elsewhere but said simply acknowledging the problem isn't enough. "Yes, we're rallying. But I want to see something happen from all of this rallying," Cunningham said. "Dr. King was a shaker and mover, and if it didn't shake, he got it shaking. ... Show up! Show your face! Get involved! Do something.

Don't sit in your seat and do nothing and think things are going to get better. So let's get busy." •In New Jersey, The Asbury Park Press newspaper hosted a forum on the value of black lives, the perception of black people and the disparities in jobs, education and opportunities for success. "When real opportunities are not made available to people, race becomes what people focus on," said Kasturi Dasgupta, a professor of sociology at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J. "Have we made it possible in this country for each person to be the best that they can be? CLOSE Tweens discuss how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has inspired them. VPC (Photo: Bebeto Matthews, AP) King was born Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta. In 1983, Congress established his birthday as a federal holiday. The nation has observed the holiday on the third Monday in January since 1986. The King holiday celebration this year is happening as a new generation of Americans is introduced to the civil rights martyr and the movement he led through the movie Selma, director Ava DuVernay's historical drama about those Bloody Sunday events.

David Oyelowo, who plays King, spoke this morning at Ebenezer and seemed overcome with emotion while discussing what it was like "to step into Dr. King's shoes." (Photo: Atsushi Nishijima, AP) Maurice Hobson, an assistant professor of African American Studies at Georgia State University, said Selma is valuable on this day: "It hammers home to a young generation how with Michael Brown, Eric Garner … and others who have been marginalized, this is not a new conversation. It's ongoing." Contributing: Rick Neale of Florida Today in Melbourne; Bill McMichael of The News Journal in Wilmington, Del.; Stephen Herzog of the Springfield News-Leader in Missouri; MacKenzie Elmer of The Des Moines Register; Marcella Corona of the Reno Gazette-Journal; Marty Roney of The Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama; Holly Meyer of The Tennessean; Stephanie Dickrell of the St.

Cloud Times in Minnesota; Therese Apel of The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, MIss.; Ron Barnett of The Greenville News in South Carolina; Stacey Henson of The News-Press in Fort Myers, Fla.; Matthew Glowicki of The Louisville Courier-Journal; Matthew Daneman of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle in New York; Nicquel Terry of The Asbury Park Press in New Jersey; and Reuters. National Archives EEO Special Emphasis Observances | National Archives Reasonable Accommodations Procedures National Archives EEO Special Emphasis Observances Special Emphasis Programs (SEP) are an integral part of the Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Program. The purpose of these programs is to ensure that agencies take affirmative steps to provide equal opportunity to minorities, women and people with disabilities in all areas of employment. The term, "Special Emphasis Programs," refers specifically to employment related programs which focus special attention on groups that are conspicuously absent or underrepresented in a specific occupational category or grade level in the agency's work force. These programs serve as a channel to management officials.

The goals of the Special Emphasis Programs are to: Improve employment and advancement opportunities for minorities, women and people with disabilities in the Federal service; Identify systemic causes of discrimination against minorities, women and people with disabilities; Seek ways to help minorities, women and people with disabilities to advance by using their skills more fully; Monitor agency progress in eliminating discrimination and adverse impact on minorities, women and people with disabilities in employment and agency programs; and Educate Federal employees and managers about the extent of various forms of discrimination within the Federal Service. Special observances were designed for the purpose of providing cultural awareness to everyone. Commemorative activities conducted for these observances should be educational and employment-related. Observances celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; African American Heritage; Women's History; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) equal rights; Asian Pacific Americans; Women's Equality Day; Hispanic Americans; People with Disabilities; and American Indian/Alaskan Native Heritage. The following are Special Emphasis Observances implemented by Presidential Proclamation, Executive Orders and Public Law as cited below: Month January: Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr Authority: Public Law 98-144; Public Law 98-399 The first observance of the Federal legal holiday honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. was established on January 20, 1986. This holiday serves as time for Americans to reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change espoused by Martin Luther King, Jr.; and it is appropriate for the Federal Government to coordinate efforts with Americans of diverse backgrounds and with private organizations in the observance of the Federal legal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. February: African American History Month Authority: Executive Order 11478 In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson instituted the first week-long celebration to raise awareness of African Americans' contributions to history. 50 years later, the week became a month, and today February is celebrated as African American History Month. The month of February was chosen because it celebrates the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, both of whom dramatically affected the lives of African Americans.

Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) was a writer, lecturer, editor, and civil rights activist who escaped slavery at age 21 and went on to campaign for the abolition of slavery, establish a newspaper, and hold the office of Minister to Haiti. He was a major voice in the anti-slavery/civil rights movement of his time. Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809), as the sixteenth president of the United States, issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, thereby declaring that all slaves within the Confederacy would be permanently free. Each year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASAALH) founded by Dr. Woodson, sets the theme for the month. March: National Women's History Month Authority: Public Law 103-22, 107 Stat. 58 and Executive Order 11375 National Women's History Month was established by presidential proclamation in order to draw attention to and improve the focus on women in historical studies.

It began in New York City on March 8, 1857, when female textile workers marched in protest of unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women. It was one of the first organized strikes by working women, during which they called for a shorter work day and decent wages. Also on March 8, in 1908, women workers in the needle trades marched through New York City's Lower East Side to protest child labor, sweatshop working conditions, and demand women's suffrage. Beginning in 1910, March 8 became annually observed as International Women's Day. Women's History Week was instituted in 1978 in an effort to begin adding women's history into educational curricula. In 1987, the National Women's History Project successfully petitioned Congress to include all of March as a celebration of the economic, political and social contributions of women. May: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month Authority: Executive Order 13339 The roots of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month can be traced back to 1976, when Jeanie Jew, President of the Organization of Chinese American Women, contacted government officials in response to the lack of Asian Pacific representation in the U.S.

bicentennial celebrations that same year. The observance began in 1979 as Asian Heritage Week, established by congressional proclamation. In May 1990, the holiday was expanded further when President George Bush signed a proclamation making it month-long for that year. On October 23, 1992, Bush signed legislation designating May of every year Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The month of May was chosen to commemorate two significant events in history: the immigration of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869 (Golden Spike Day). The diversity and common experiences of the many ethnic groups are celebrated during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with numerous community festivals as well as government-sponsored activities. June: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month Authority: Proclamation 8387 In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBT Americans were commonly subjected. This uprising marks the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBT Americans.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month commemorates the events of June 1969 and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBT Americans. In 1998, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13087 expanding equal opportunity employment in the Federal government by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. On June 2, 2000, President Clinton issued Proclamation No. 7316 for Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. On June 1, 2009, President Obama issued Proclamation No. 8387 for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. In this proclamation the President pointed to the contributions made by LGBT Americans both in promoting equal rights to all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and in broader initiatives such as the response to the global HIV pandemic. The President ended the proclamation by calling upon the people of the United States to "turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists." September: National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) Authority: Executive Order 13230 National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the culture, heritage, and contributions of Hispanic Americans each year.

The event began in 1968 when Congress deemed the week, including September 15 and 16, National Hispanic Heritage Week to celebrate the contributions and achievements of the diverse cultures within the Hispanic community. The dates were chosen to commemorate two key historic events: Independence Day, honoring the formal signing of the Act of Independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (September 15, 1821), and Mexico's Independence Day, which denotes the beginning of the struggle against Spanish control (September 16, 1810). It was not until 1988 that the event was expanded to month-long period, which includes El Dia de la Raza on October 12, celebrating the influences of the people who came after Christopher Columbus and the multicultural, multiethnic society that evolved as a result; Chile's Independence Day on September 18 (El Dieciocho); and Belize's Independence Day on September 21. Each year a different theme for the month is selected and a poster is created to reflect that theme.

October: National Disability Employment Awareness Month Authority: Executive Order 13187 Congress, with the aim of helping disabled veterans, designated the first week of October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week in 1945. Seventeen years later, the word "physically" was removed from the phrase in order to recognize the needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In the 1970s, a shift in disability public policy led to further amendments. For the first time, it was viewed as discriminatory to exclude or segregate people because of a disability, and activists were fighting strongly for legal revisions. As a result, the U.S. saw changes such as the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and the designation, by presidential proclamation, of a full month to increase public awareness of those with disabilities and appreciate the capabilities of the 30 million people in the U.S. of working-age who are disabled. Various programs throughout the month headed by The Office of Disability Employment Policy emphasize specific employment barriers that still need to be addressed and eliminated.

November: National American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month Authority: Presidential Proclamation and Executive Order 13270 In 1976, Congress designated a week of October to celebrate Native American Awareness Week. The week served as recognition for the great influence American Indians have had upon the U.S. Yearly legislation was enacted to continue the tradition until August of 1990, when President Bush approved the designation of November as National American Indian Heritage Month. Each year a similar proclamation is issued. President Clinton noted in 1996, "Throughout our history, American Indian and Alaska Native peoples have been an integral part of the American character. Against all odds, America's first peoples have endured, and they remain a vital cultural, political, social, and moral presence." November is an appropriate month for the celebration because it is traditionally a time when many American Indians hold fall harvest and world-renewal ceremonies, powwows, dances, and various feasts. The holiday recognizes hundreds of different tribes and approximately 250 languages, and celebrates the history, tradition, and values of American Indians.

National American Indian Heritage Month serves as a reminder of the positive effect native peoples have had on the cultural development and growth of the U.S., as well as the struggles and challenges they have faced. Patriotic Holidays | National Archives Patriotic Holidays Bill of Rights Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day takes place on third Monday of January each year, near the time of Dr. King's birthday on January 15th. It commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a reverend and civil rights activist who lead the African-American civil rights movement in the United States. He is best known for his inspirational "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered at the March on Washington in 1963. His birthday was established as a national holiday in 1986, but was not celebrated in all 50 states until 2000. Washington's Birthday Washington's Birthday was established as a federal holiday in 1885. It celebrates the life and contributions of George Washington, first president of the United States and general of the American Revolution.

In some states, the holiday is expanded to also commemorate President Abraham Lincoln's birthday, and is thus referred to as "President's Day". It occurs on the third Monday of February, near both presidents' birthdays. Memorial Day Celebrated on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day commemorates men and women who have died serving the United States. It was first instituted to remember soldiers who died in the Civil War, and was originally called "Decoration Day" because of the tradition of decorating soldiers' graves. Flag Day June 14th is Flag Day, commemorating the official adoption of the US flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. It celebrates the history and symbolic meaning of the American flag, and is also an opportunity to remember those who fight to protect it and the nation for which it stands. Although it has been celebrated since the Civil War, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that it would be celebrated on June 14th in 1916. However, it is not officially a federal holiday, and only Pennsylvania has adopted it as a state holiday. Independence Day Independence Day marks the adoption by the first Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Every July 4th, Americans celebrate this federal holiday with parades, fireworks, games, and patriotic music, following Thomas Jefferson's injunction that, "It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." Constitution Day Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17th, memorializing the date that the Constitution was signed in 1787. Previously known as "Citizenship Day", it became an official federal holiday called "Constitution Day" in 2004. On this day, students learn about the constitution, the rights it ensures, and related issues in American government and history. Election Day The Tuesday following the first Monday of November is Election Day, when ballots are cast for elected officials. The first presidential election to occur simultaneously on this day took place in 1848, and the House of Representatives election was moved to take place on the same date in 1872. Voting that takes place on the same date throughout the country prevents earlier elections from affecting later ones.

Veterans Day Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th and commemorates all veterans of the US military. A federal holiday, it occurs on November 11th to memorialize the Armistice which ended World War I on that date in 1918. It was proclaimed a holiday by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. Bill of Rights Day December 15th is Bill of Rights Day, celebrating the addition of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution on that day in 1791. This holiday celebrates the freedoms and rights that the Bill of Rights preserve for Americans. In 1941, on the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the date a federal holiday. This page was last reviewed on August 15, 2016. Making of The King Holiday | The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change Making of The King Holiday A Chronology April 8, 1968 – Four days after Dr.

King is assassinated, Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) introduces first legislation providing for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. June 26, 1968 – The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center is founded in Atlanta. The mission is to establish a living memorial to Dr. King, to preserve his papers and promote his teachings. Shortly after, King Center Founder Coretta Scott King, directs the small staff to being planning for the first annual observance of Dr. King’s birthday. January 15, 1969 – The King Center sponsors the first annual observance of Dr. King’s birthday with an ecumenical service and other events and calls for nation-wide commemorations of Dr. King’s birthday. This observance becomes the model for subsequent annual commemorations of Dr. King’s birthday nation-wide, setting the tone of celebration of Dr. King’s life, education in his teachings and nonviolent action to carry forward his unfinished work. April, 1971 – Petitions gathered by SCLC bearing 3 million signatures in support of King Holiday are presented to Congress. But Congress takes no action to move holiday legislation forward.

1973 – First state King Holiday bill (sponsored by then Assemblyman Harold Washington) signed into law in Illinois. 1974 – Massachusetts, Connecticut enact statewide King Holidays. 1975 – New Jersey State Supreme Court rules that state must provide a paid holiday in honor of Dr. King in accordance with the state government’s labor contract with the New Jersey State Employees Association. November 4, 1978 – National Council of Churches calls on Congress to pass King Holiday. February 19, 1979 – Coretta Scott King testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings in behalf of the King Holiday. She urges Rep. Conyers to bring the holiday bill up for a floor vote in the House of Representatives. March 27, 1979 – Mrs. King testifies before Joint Hearings of Congress in support of King Holiday bill. 1979 – Mrs. King directs King Center staff to begin intensive organizing of a nation-wide citizens lobby for a national Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. King Center launches new nationwide King Holiday petition campaign, which is signed by more than 300,000 before end of year.

President Carter calls on Congress to pass national King Holiday. The King Holiday bill finally begins to move through Congressional committees. November, 1979 – The Conyers King Holiday bill is defeated in floor vote in U.S. House of Representatives by just 5 votes. 1980 –Stevie Wonder releases “Happy Birthday,” a song celebrating Dr. King and urging a holiday in his honor. It becomes a hit and a rallying cry for the holiday. May 2, 1980 – Coretta Scott King testifies in U.S. House of Representative in support of establishing a National Historic Site in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. September 11, 1980 – Mrs. King testifies in U.S. Senate in support of establishing a National Historic Site in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. 1981 – King Center President Coretta Scott King writes to governors, mayors, chairpersons of city council across the U.S., requesting them to pass resolutions and proclamations commemorating the Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday and send them to The King Center’s Archives. She asks them to recognize celebrations and programs of observance.

February 23, 1982 – Mrs. King testifies in support of the Holiday before the Subcommittee on Census and Population of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. 1982 – The King Center calls for and mobilizes a conference to commemorate and serve as cosponsors of the 19th anniversary of the March on Washington. More than 100 organizations participated. King Center mobilizes coalition to lobby for the holiday. Stevie Wonder funds holiday lobbying office and staff based in Washington, D.C. 1982 – Mrs. King and Stevie Wonder present King Center petitions bearing more than 6 million signatures in support of King Holiday to Tip O’Neil, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. June, 1983 – Mrs. King testifies before Congress in behalf of The King Holiday bill again. August, 1983 – The House of Representatives passes King Holiday Bill, providing for the King Holiday to be observed on the third Monday in January. The bill, which is sponsored by Reps. Katie Hall (D.-IN) and Jack Kemp (R-NY), passes by a vote of 338 to 90.

August 27, 1983 – King Center convenes the “20th Anniversary March on Washington,” supported by more than 750 organizations. More than 500,000 people attend the March at the Lincoln Memorial, and all of the speakers call on the U.S. Senate and President Reagan to pass the King Holiday. October 19, 1983 – Holiday Bill sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D.-Mass.) passes U.S. Senate by a vote of 78-22. November 3, 1983 – President Reagan signs bill establishing the 3rd Monday of every January as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, beginning in 1986. April-May, 1984 – King Center develops legislative proposal to establish the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission. Mrs. King meets with leadership of the House and Senate and appeals to Congress to legislate the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission. The legislation passes Congress by a voice vote. August 27, 1984 – President Reagan signs legislation providing for the Martin Luther King, Jr.

Federal Holiday Commission, to last for a term of five years, with an option to renew for another 5 years. November, 1984 – First meeting of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission. Coretta Scott King is unanimously elected Chairperson January 20, 1986 – First national King Holiday Observed. By this time 17 states had official King holidays. The King Holiday Commissioners are sworn in by federal district Judge Horace Ward. January 16, 1989 – As a result of leadership of the King Holiday Commission, the number of states which enacted a MLK holiday grows to 44. 1990 – The United Auto Workers negotiate contracts with the big three auto companies requiring a paid holiday for all their employees. January 15, 1990 – The Wall St. Journal Reports that only 18 % of 317 corporate employers surveyed by the Bureau of National Affairs provide a paid King Holiday. November 3, 1992 – After a coalition of citizens for an Arizona King Holiday launches successful protest and boycott campaigns, the people of Arizona pass referendum establishing Martin Luther King, Jr. state holiday.

January , 1993 – Arizona observes first statewide King holiday, leaving only New Hampshire without a state holiday in honor of Dr. King. 1994 – Citing Dr. King’s statement that “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve,” Coretta Scott King testifies before congress in support of making the King Holiday an official national day of humanitarian service. August 23, 1994 – President Clinton signs the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act, expanding the mission of the holiday as a day of community service, interracial cooperation and youth anti-violence initiatives. 1996 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission concludes mission, transfers responsibility for coordinating nationwide holiday programs and activities to The King Center 1998 – A Bureau of National Affairs survey of 458 employers found that 26 percent provide a paid holiday for their workers on the King Holiday. The survey found that 33 percent of firms with union contracts provided the paid King Holiday, compared to 22 percent of nonunion shops. June 7, 1999 – Governor Jean Shaheen of New Hampshire signs the King Holiday legislation into law, completing enactment of holiday in all states.

October 29, 1999 – U.S. Senate unanimously passes legislation requiring federal institutions to fly the U.S. flag on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. August 2000 – The King Center’s National Holiday Advisory Committee (replacing the Federal King Holiday Commission) is established to promote the Holiday throughout the 50 states. Each governor of the 50 states is asked to appoint two state representatives to coordinate celebration in their state. Today – The King holiday is celebrated in U.S. installations and is observed by local groups in more than 100 other nations. Trinidad and other nations have also established a holiday in honor of Dr. King. The King Holiday should highlight remembrance and celebration and should encourage people everywhere to reflect on the principles of nonviolent social change and racial equality as espoused by Martin Luther King, Jr. It should be a day of community and humanitarian service, and interracial cooperation. The King Holiday should be a day of which the majority of local and state governments close, and one on which private organizations and the majority of businesses honor Dr. King by encouraging their employees to undertake community service work to address social needs.

The King Holiday should officially and appropriately be observed by the United Nations and its members. Mrs. Coretta Scott King, who severed as Chair, Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday Commission and Founding President of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change, is quoted as saying: “As a nation chooses its heroes and heroines, a nation interprets its history and shapes its destiny. The commemoration of the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. can help America realize its true destiny as the global model for democracy, economic and social justice, and as the first nonviolent society in human history.” Location

Question: In which month is Martin Luther King Day celebrated in the USA?
Answer: January